Clematis plant named ‘EVIPO031’

ABSTRACT

A new  Clematis  cultivar which is well suited to propagation in glasshouses. With a tall growth habit, profuse, light violet flowers and continuous summer flowering. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for cultivation in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Botanical classification: Genus—Clematis. Species—viticella.

Variety denomination: ‘EVIPO031’.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCOVERY

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of Clematiswhich originated as a chance seedling of unknown parents. The newvariety is named ‘EVIPO031’.

The objective of the selection of this Clematis variety for commercialglasshouse and nursery culture was to create a new and distinct varietywith unique qualities that this variety has:

-   -   1. Profuse light violet flowers;    -   2. Reliable and repeatable production plant;    -   3. Summer flowering;    -   4. Improved disease resistance.

These qualities required improvement in clematis varieties that were incommercial cultivation and the objectives have been substantiallyachieved in the new variety, as evidenced by the unique combination ofcharacteristics that are present in ‘EVIPO031’, which distinguish itfrom all other varieties of which we are aware.

Evaluations of the seedling plant were conducted in a controlledenvironment. As a result, ‘EVIPO031’ was selected by Raymond J. Evisonand Mogens N. Olesen in their Clematis development program in DomarieVineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, UnitedKingdom in June 1996.

Asexual reproduction of ‘EVIPO031’ by cuttings was first done by RaymondJ. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St.Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in April 1997. Thisinitial and subsequent asexual propagations have demonstrated that thecharacteristics of ‘EVIPO031’ are true to type and are transmitted fromone generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type:

FIG. 1 Enlarged image of open flower, upper and lower surface.

FIG. 2.1 Open flower, upper and lower surface;

FIG. 2.2 Stem showing branching and the attachment of leaves, flowers atvarious stages of development, and seed cluster;

FIG. 2.3 Flower buds closed and as tepals unfold;

FIG. 2.4 Stem showing attachment of mature and juvenile leaves.

FIG. 3 Leaves, cluster of flowers showing attitude, and seed heads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of ‘EVIPO031’, as observed inits growth throughout the flowering period in glasshouses at DomarieVineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, UnitedKingdom. Observed plants were cultivated for a period of 24 months in 2liter containers. Certain phenotypical characteristics of the varietymay vary under different environmental, cultural, agronomic, seasonal,and climatic conditions. Color references are made using The RoyalHorticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001.

For a comparison, the nearest existing Clematis variety is ‘EVIPO001’, apatented variety described and illustrated in U.S. Plant patentApplication Ser. No. 10/719,750 dated Nov. 21, 2003. Chart 1 detailsseveral physical characteristics ‘EVIPO031’ and the comparison variety.

CHART 1 ‘EVIPO031’ ‘EVIPO001’ Tepal Count Normally 6 4 to 6 Main tepalViolet-Blue Violet Group N88D color Group RHS 90B (no purple tones.)Peduncle Near horizontal Horizontal to aspect nodding Foliage TrifoliateNormally trifoliate but greater tendency to produce simple leaves.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Summer flowering. Normal flowering months are May,    June, July, August, September.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—37 mm in length. Bud diameter is 15 mm.        -   Bud form.—Ovate.        -   Bud color.—Yellow-Green Group 144B, proceeding to Violet            Group 85B with margins of violet Group 86B as tepals unfold.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Aspects.—Near horizontal.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Length.—100 to 130 mm average length.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146B.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.-   Receptacle: Absent.-   Flower arrangement:    -   -   Location on vine.—New growth only.        -   Borne.—Compound cyme cluster of 5 flowers.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Size.—85 to 95 mm in diameter. 20 mm in depth.        -   Profile.—Upon opening: Flowers are flat. After opening:            Flowers are flat with tepals reflexing somewhat.        -   Tepal color.—Upon opening: Upper surface is Violet Group 86A            in color. After opening: Upper surface is Violet-Blue Group            90B in color. The underside margin is of the same color as            the main upper side Violet-Blue Group 90B. The middle zone            is slightly lighter Violet-Blue Group 91B with three            longitudinal bars of approximate color Purple-Violet Group            80A.        -   Variations.—Violet Group 85D at tepal base.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Lasting quality on plant.—10 to 15 days.        -   Lasting quality as a cut flower.—4 to 5 days.-   Tepals:    -   -   Quantity.—Normally 6 tepals, occasionally 5 or 7 tepals            observed.        -   Size.—42 to 45 mm in length by 25 to 30 mm wide.        -   Shape.—Individual tepal shape is ovate to elliptical.        -   Margin.—Entire, slight undulation.        -   Tepal apex.—Acute.        -   Recurvature of tip.—Moderately reflexed.        -   Persistence.—After flowers have matured, tepals drop off            cleanly.        -   Arrangement.—Tepals are arranged regularly.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—Open.        -   Pollen.—Quantity: Scant. Color: Yellow Group 5C.        -   Anthers.—Size: 4 mm in length. Color: Yellow Group 7A.            Quantity: 45 to 60.        -   Filaments.—Color: White Group N155A. Length: 9 mm.        -   Pistils.—Quantity: 35 to 42.        -   Stigmas.—Inferior to anthers, becoming superior as the            flower opens.        -   Styles.—Color: White Group 155B with base covered with            feathery sheath of Greyed-Yellow Group 162B. Length: 8 to 12            mm.-   Seed head characteristics:    -   -   Size.—Approximately 50 mm in diameter at the base.        -   Shape.—Tear shaped with approximately 8 mm diameter with            elongated plumule.

PLANT

-   Plant form: Climbing.-   Size: Seasons growth attains 2 to 2.5 meters in height. Average    spread is 1 to 1.5 meters.-   Hardiness: Trials to date show the variety is cold tolerant to USDA    Cold Hardiness Zone 3.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Young wood: Greyed-Orange 177A. Older wood:            Greyed-Orange 166B.        -   Internodes.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: 110 mm to 140 mm.        -   Surface.—Young wood: Smooth and pubescent. Older wood:            Smooth and pubescent.-   Plant foliage:    -   -   Leaf characteristics.—Deciduous.        -   Mature leaf form.—Trifoliate.        -   Compound leaf size. —90 to 125 mm (l)×100 to 120 mm (w).        -   Abundance.—Generally, there are 4 leaves per 120 mm of stem.        -   Color.—Upper surfaces of mature leaves: Green Group 143A.            Lower surfaces of mature leaves: Green Group 143C. Upper            surfaces of new foliage: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Lower            surfaces of new foliage: Yellow-Green Group 144D.-   Plant leaves and leaflets:    -   -   Stipules.—Absent.        -   Petioles.—Average length: 65 to 100 mm. Color: Yellow-Green            144D. Clasping: By leaf petiole.        -   Petioloule.—Length: 10 to 15 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group            144D.        -   Leaf edge.—Terminal leaflet margin is entire.        -   Leaflet shape.—General shape: Ovate. Base: Rounded. Apex:            Acute.        -   Leaflet size.—50 to 60 mm in length by 30 to 40 mm wide.        -   Leaflet texture.—Smooth. Upper side: Smooth. Lower side:            Smooth. Pubescence: Not observed. Thickness: Moderate.            Glossiness: Moderately Glossy Finish.-   Disease resistance: Subject to any disease that normally attacks the    species, however the variety is more tolerant to Botrytis, Phoma    clematadina, and root diseases such as Theilaviopsis than some    Clematis.

1. A new and distinct variety of clematis plant named ‘EVIPO031’,described and illustrated herein, due to its abundant light violetflowers, attractive long-lasting foliage and repeatable flowering underglasshouse conditions, suitability for production from softwood cuttingsin pots, durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable fordistribution in the floral industry.